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Houseal Non-Settling System™

In order to construct complex handcrafted log homes we needed the engineering of our homes to come up to speed with our design ambitions. The creation of the Houseal Non-Settling System™ for handcrafted log homes solved this problem.

A handcrafted log home without a non-settling system can be expected to settle 6 inches or more in the first years following construction. This is caused by logs shrinking. Unfortunately, they don't all shrink at the same rate or in the same place. In the past, this characteristic required handcrafted log home design to be relatively simple.

The steel pin and pipe of the Houseal Non-Settling System™ runs through the entire log wall. Instead of depending on structural integrity from the logs sitting on top of each other, the engineering power comes from the pin and pipe. As the logs naturally shrink, the chinking expands to keep the house weather tight and the non-settling system keeps the home stable.

Handcrafted Log Home Construction

Wood Species and Sizes

We construct handcrafted homes with logs 16-inches in diameter and larger. Accents and other character pieces can reach a mid-span of 3-foot or greater.

Although we also offer white wood and cedar, most of our handcrafted log homes are constructed using high quality Douglas Fir. Douglas Fir has a complex grain structure and is less prone to checking and twisting. We recommend Douglas Fir because it's strong, flexible and available in a variety of sizes.

Construction Method

Our handcrafted log homes are preconstructed on our lot, unstacked, shipped to the build location, and restacked on its foundation.

When the logs first arrive at our facility they are hand-peeled. Then each of the logs is cut and hand-fitted into place by our team of skilled craftsmen. As the handcrafting crew preconstruct the home, they are simultaneously drilling for the installation of our exclusive Houseal Non-Settling System™.

Once the home is completely stacked, the crew deconstructs the home, being sure to note where each log goes, and ships the logs to the build site. The same crew that preconstructed the home also travels to the build site to reconstruct the home on the foundation.